Rough Passage
written by: Don Flecknoe
A dull grey patch far out to sea,
A smudge, no more,
ominous.
Hours pass the east wind rising,
A gull grey sky turns leaden,
Bearing down.
Riding white caps, a hail of stinging spray,
we know there’s more to come.
One reef in the sail.
Waves rumble, shudder down the hull,
Rigging whistling ever higher,
Another hour, reef
In fading light, dark swells now steeper,
darkness swallows all and yet,
The battering goes on.
Through the Starless, moonless night,
We brace for each onslaught,
battened down.
Slowly, that icy east wind subsides,
Though steep dark swells remain.
At dawn I’m back on deck
My watch, alone and looking East
I see a blood red rising sun.
We sail another day.
I have been a member of the Poets and Writers on the Tweed for over five years and have been writing for pleasure for over fifteen years. I am a retired architect, 83 years old. In my career I have been required to write detailed submissions to governmental departments and councils.
Latest posts by Don Flecknoe (see all)
- Rough Passage - November 4, 2025
- ADog Called Ranger - July 30, 2025
- Elegy - April 5, 2025
